State XC trip

For my birthday this year, Curtis made arrangements for me to travel and stay with the Cross Country team on their State Championship trip. We left on Tues, Oct. 22 and came home on the 23rd. This trip only involves the high school team so the craziness was not as high as it would have been had the jr. high teams been on the bus. I actually enjoyed the bus ride, didn't sleep, got to read a little and get to know the girls' coaches a bit better and just enjoy not having to be the driver.

I haven't ridden a school bus since I was in high school...I enjoyed the whole trip.

So fun to spend this time with one of my favorite girls!!

Tradition for this trip is that dinner is at the Olive Garden for some carbo-loading, pre-race. Yummy! Then the kids get an hour or two at the mall to wander, shop, spec out cute boys/girls, etc. Cambria and her friend, B, and I went prom-dress shopping. After we traipsed the entire mall, Cambria found one she liked in Dillard's and it's not a long, frilly, formal dress. It's just a nice, modest, knee-length red dress and she was thrilled. She has a practical side and just couldn't see spending $$$ on a dress she'll likely only wear once. I was the one dragging feet on buying it. Probably because I have dreams of seeing my girls all fancied and gussied up and looking like princesses. But I let her get the dress and she was happy to have that chore out of the way.

She's so photogenic! Everyone should eat breadsticks at Olive Garden while wearing a fez.

Doing a little shopping at the mall with friends. Funky mannequin poses caught their eye.

Wednesday was an absolutely gorgeous fall day, probably a little too warm for the runners. But it was lovely for watching a race. We arrived at Sugarhouse Park and the girls left to walk the course. I made my way to the starting area and waited for them there. Thankfully I found a few Monticelloans to help me figure out how to watch this thing. Start here, run up there to watch them go by, run back down here and watch them go by again and again, then run up to the track for the finish. Whew! Should have packed my running shoes!! If I had any.

Coming out of the starting box...I think Cambria is the girl just to the right, in dark shorts with stripes on the side,
of the girl in the front on the right side of the picture.

Terrible picture but I'm keeping it because it's all I have....darn iPhone.

Cambria was the fourth finisher on her team and the team won the 2nd place trophy. They were so excited, it was the best finish these girls have ever had at state, since the last time Monticello girls did this well, these girls were not even in school yet.

The girls team with their 2nd place trophy. First time they've placed that high since 2000. :)

maybe it's heavy?

The entire High School Cross Country team with their 1st place Boys' trophy and 2nd place Girls' trophy.

The boys team did awesome, as well. They took the State Championship for the 3rd year in a row and E. Nielson was the State Champion individual boys' finisher. Sure made for a happy bus trip home!

Loved watching this girl give it her all. Great job, Cambria!!

I wasn't sure when Curtis told me what he had arranged what I was getting myself into, but it was so much fun and I'm so glad I had this chance to make a memory with my daughter. She is a wonderful girl who is such a help to me. I love watching her grow and push herself and I'm thrilled with the woman she is becoming. Soon she'll be gone, taking on the world, and I'll miss her, but I'll have these kinds of memories to look back on when I do.

Just more photo evidence of her photogenic ways...She was playing some football type game with the boys, hence the headband and black lines under her eyes.
She likes to get right in there and mix it up.
Must come from having so many older brothers.

Good Things:

Awesome hotel with a comfy bed

Time with Cambria

See Curtis come around the corner to pick us up. I'm home!